IPSWICH'S New Wolsey theatre has launched its Christmas display - based on decorated shoes. A project with Ipswich schools and Genesis, a charity which works with disabled people, the shoes can be seen in the café bar and Bar at the theatre.

IPSWICH'S New Wolsey theatre has launched its Christmas display - based on decorated shoes.

A project with Ipswich schools and Genesis, a charity which works with disabled people, the shoes can be seen in the café bar and Bar at the theatre.

Schools were invited to participate and Copleston and Northgate High Schools and Genesis were selected and given the opportunity to work with designer Eileen Aldous on the display.

Deborah Cowley, New Wolsey education and community coordinator managed the project. “The schools were very keen to get involved and we encouraged students to let their imaginations run wild. However, we did ask them to work with our corporate colours - red, black, white and silver - and the idea was to expose them to the design process and how to turn a 2-D idea into a 3-D reality. It has been a challenging project as we are working with about 330 students. The end product is remarkable and the effort that has gone into this has been fantastic.”

Damien Ribbans, business development manager at Genesis, said: “Community projects like this are vital for us to showcase the excellent work that our clients do. Genesis is a charity, which works with a variety of disabled people in a variety of different ways, to improve their lives.

“We are keen to promote the image of disabled people in the community and we are always looking to get involved in community projects. We were approached by The New Wolsey Theatre to help them decorate the theatre in time for Christmas. We were only too happy to help, and set about sourcing shoes to decorate. We are proud to be involved, and would like to thank the Wolsey for inviting us.

“Having spoken to the participants who helped produce the shoes, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and one that they were keen to repeat.”

Designer Eileen Aldous has created a the display with shoe trees, shoe mobiles and shoe garlands.

She said: “It has been so much fun and I think we have ended up with a rather unique display. It's always nice to do something different and the students responded with great enthusiasm to the brief. I hope audiences coming into the building to see Beauty and the Beast and Shoe Baby at the Studio will be equally enthused.”

What do you think of the display? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk